Here’s light in your eye and mud on the dog and other such important stuff.

Did you know that contrary to popular belief and scientific data, that light turns?! It does. I’ll prove it. We spend a lot of time outside working, and it never fails no matter where I go, reflected sunlight is in my eyes. It reflects off of everything and that is impossible because in some locations there is no sunshine!!! Yet, there it is right in my eyes. It is amazing how many times a day this happens. It is really bad when I have to take off my shades and it strikes. Total amazement just grips me how it can happen. But! one evening a few weeks ago doing my last walk around before turning in I was checking on the cows and when I walked by the trough, it happened again, light reflecting in my eyes. This time though it was from a beautiful full moon. I stopped short to look further. Water rippled in the trough from a light breeze, and was so lovely. The soft glow did not hurt at all, but comforted my heart. I said “thank you Lord for the beauty”.

Our LGD a Pyrenees loves water, especially as it comes out of a hose. Where ever it is when he finds it, a hole appears…..a big hole. We knew Pyrenees liked to dig, but we did not know that they “loved” to dig. Nor did we know that their paws were the size of a small backhoe bucket and move just as much material. If his body grows into his feet, he may eventually be four feet tall at the back. Well when he starts to dig, mud flies, on him and anything or anybody near. Vacate the area quickly, which entices him to follow quickly! Today I headed for the house….Bad idea. As I was closing the door behind me there was this sweet little face trying to join me inside. When I stopped him he sat down and gave me the most pitiful look. Sorry Ben, I love you, but I love Mary Lynn much more!

We hope for you a very happy Fourth. Hug a Veteran, tell them thank you. If you have family who have served or are serving, as we do, thank you for supporting them and their families and loving them. We love ours.

Like this:

Today our attention was drawn to a cow pie. As I took Ruby’s (eight month old calf) halter off and she contentedly stood in her feed pan, Mary Lynn commented “that’s a pretty cow pie”. How can a cow pie be anywhere near nice looking? Well let me tell you. First, it is a gauge of our pastures. In spring when so much is fresh, tender and the cows eat very happily, their pies are moderately loose, which is good. Too loose is not, and too stiff is not good either. It’s now half into the year, July is tomorrow, and the cows still have good pies. We are pleased as the pastures are lush and growing hard, which means ample rain and nutrients.

Second, maybe we are learning to manage the pastures better. Initially, I tried all summer to stockpile grass in the pastures, that is to leave it taller. It seemed like a good idea until we got to watching and seeing what was happening. The grass got tough and stringy. Holly, who has a very narrow mouth and jaw area would become impacted, filling her cheeks, under her tongue, and even down into her throat with improperly chewed grass, which means I have to go in and pull all that material out. And that is not fun as cow teeth are sharp as razors. If not done she can’t eat or drink, and that’s not good. Also, the wrong weeds began to invade. Thistle, briars, and the like will try their best to absolutely ruin a pasture. So we mow the pastures often, and in strips, keeping the grass new, fresh and tender. Guess people who drive by think I can’t make up my mind where to mow. But the cows like to graze on each pasture, so I usually mow a third of each then move on to the next and then start over again.

So, cow pies are a beautiful thing, you just have to look at them in the right light, and maybe hold your nose.

I just got in from my last walk around and to close up the chickens. It’s beautiful out with the moon in a thin crescent in the west, Jupiter overhead with one moon visible through binoculars, and Saturn to the southeast appearing as an orange oval. There is a slight chill in the air, no not like fall, but nice after such a hot day. Not much wind blew, and I spent time in the tractor seat mowing pastures so the heat was magnified. Mowing helps to keep undesirable weeds down, while also encouraging grasses to grow. Plus it keeps the grass at a tender length the cows really enjoy. You can look at their pies and pretty much know how they are fairing. Clover and tender grass……they are doing right well!!!

Living on a farm and working it is nice. Like I told some neighbors Saturday, it is the hardest and the longest days in a job I have ever had, yet the one we love the most of all . There is nothing else we would rather do for a living. We see dark in the morning, and we see dark in the evening, and it is beautiful. Go out and take a look around, there is a lot to see.

Spring has sprung for sure in the garden. Mustard, collards, spinach and kale have really had a growth spurt this last week. We got a late start with the fall planting so most of the greens were still very small when the freezing temperatures came. They struggled all winter but are coming out pretty good now. For our farm customers, greens will be available for sale this week. The asparagus are just starting to poke their heads up. We transplanted an 8 x 20 ft bed this winter to fill an area of 12 rows 50 ft long! Looks like they survived the moving so hopefully we will have asparagus ready for customers pretty soon. Stay tuned for more farm and homestead updates!

We’ve been here on the farm full time for a year now. We started with our first order of chicks last February and another in March. They spent the summer on pasture and then the roosters were butchered and the hens started laying. Our first Jersey cow (Minnie) arrived in April I have come to realize that I have a fondness for Jersey cows. Thankfully she was patient while we learned to milk her. Two more Jerseys came to us in November (Holly and Rosey)…..and then we were milking three!

This is a very simplified overview of our first year. And in coming posts we will tell individual stories and share experiences of times on the farm such as “how the chickens stole the garden” or “Minnie occupying the rooster house”.